General audiences can now witness the trailer for It Was Just an Accident, the new Persian-language thriller from Iranian writer-director Jafar Panahi, ahead of its theatrical release in the U.S. on Oct. 15, 2025. The film follows a former political prisoner who sees an opportunity for revenge, but his mission spirals out of control when other characters become involved.

The cast includes Vahid Mobᴀsseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, and Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr. It Was Just an Accident won the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking it as an exciting release and a likely awards contender. Last year’s Palme d’Or winner, Anora, notably went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

Now, Neon has released the first official trailer for It Was Just an Accident. It follows Vahid, a modest mechanic, who unexpectedly crosses paths with Eghbal, whom he believes to be the cruel prison guard who once tormented him. Overcome with panic, Vahid rounds up several fellow ex-prisoners who suffered under the same man, hoping to verify Eghbal’s idenтιтy.

As the quarrelsome group drives through Tehran with their captive in tow, they wrestle with the question of just how far they’re willing to go in dealing with the man they think is their former abuser. Check out the trailer for It Was Just an Accident below:

What It Was Just An Accident’s Trailer Means For The Movie

The movie premiered at Cannes, where it won the festival’s highest honor, the Palme d’Or. There, It Was Just an Accident reviews praised the film as Panahi’s most personal and politically charged work yet, blending dark comedy, empathy, and moral ambiguity into a gripping and defiant condemnation of authoritarianism, while still providing the suspense and excitement of a compelling thriller.

The trailer highlights much of the immense acclaim for the film, with critics calling it “a blistering, beautifully directed movie” and “a powerful moral thriller about the uncertainty of the truth… and the choice between revenge and mercy.” Others call it “extraordinary” and “astonishing,” as “it takes your breath away,” and left one critic “speechless.”

There is much praise for Panahi, who has been imprisoned several times for being critical of the Iranian government and made the movie without permission from the country’s authorities. Critics claim that “Every moment of it attests to the work of a master” and that “Panahi is one of the most distinctive and courageous figures in the world of cinema.”

Near the end of the trailer, a collage of critical praise appears onscreen, calling it everything from “searing,” “riveting,” “major,” “momentous,” “powerful,” “gripping,” “unforgettable,” “masterful,” “remarkable,” “exquisite,” “heartbreaking,” “grade: A,” and “a nail-biter.”

Our Take On It Was Just An Accident’s Trailer

Based on the trailer, It Was Just an Accident appears to be a taut, nail-biting thriller and a deeply human confrontation with the fragility of truth and the corrosive pull of vengeance. Panahi channels his own defiance into a work that looks politically charged as it is emotionally precise, resulting in a film that likely refuses to provide easy answers, but demands to be seen.